What tack does your horse wear and why?

S

SpringArising

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 May 2014
Messages
5,255
Visit site
Just musing. I don't think I've seen a professional rider (or aspiring pro) riding a horse without a martingale/breastplate/fluffy half-pad/spurs in the last couple of years.

To the riders who ride with a breastplate/martingale and the other 'classic' gadgets, what's your reasoning behind it? Is it genuinely needed, or is it a fashion/social statement?

Not a dig at anyone, just genuinely curious as I'm not on the competitive circuit.
 
I always send horses and even the ponies xc with a breastplate, it is not a new idea it is just since the 5 point has become popular more obvious that they are being worn, in the old days the hunting or racing style were used and are less intrusive in photos, no dead sheep to be seen. They are a precaution to prevent the saddle slipping too far back, with a fit lean horse this can happen and using a breastplate is a safety factor, I do think many people have them more as a fashion statement but they could prevent an accident so why not use one.

Martingales are used by many people, again partly for safety, if the horse puts its head up especially if approaching a fixed fence it could cause an accident, if fitted correctly they only come into play when required, as for spurs that is down to the rider, again if required to give a little extra encouragement they are useful, you cannot stop halfway round to put some on.

I believe in using minimal tack generally but am happy to put the extras on for xc just in case, it is easy to remove things once you decide they are superfluous but if they prevent an accident then I would rather use them than go without. For every day, sj, hacking etc mine are all in snaffles with nothing extra unless there is a need.
 
be positive said:
I always send horses and even the ponies xc with a breastplate, it is not a new idea it is just since the 5 point has become popular more obvious that they are being worn, in the old days the hunting or racing style were used and are less intrusive in photos, no dead sheep to be seen. They are a precaution to prevent the saddle slipping too far back, with a fit lean horse this can happen and using a breastplate is a safety factor, I do think many people have them more as a fashion statement but they could prevent an accident so why not use one.

Martingales are used by many people, again partly for safety, if the horse puts its head up especially if approaching a fixed fence it could cause an accident, if fitted correctly they only come into play when required, as for spurs that is down to the rider, again if required to give a little extra encouragement they are useful, you cannot stop halfway round to put some on.

I believe in using minimal tack generally but am happy to put the extras on for xc just in case, it is easy to remove things once you decide they are superfluous but if they prevent an accident then I would rather use them than go without. For every day, sj, hacking etc mine are all in snaffles with nothing extra unless there is a need.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the clarification. I guess it's because I see so many of those green fluffy five-point plates it does get me wondering if it is more a fashion thing. I've never had a saddle slip back going XC or doing some form of fast, strenuous work so I guess I can't really see the need. Then again maybe height of fences comes into play sometimes?

With martingales it does baffle me how every horse competing at a higher level seems to need one. Each to their own I guess.

Out of interest, what's the protocol for tack doing low level SJ/XC? Is a noseband compulsory?
 
For everything on my 5 year old we have:

copper lozenge loose ring snaffle
cavesson noseband
& a breastplate when competing - i wear it for all phases because I compete on my own so it is just easier not to have to add & take away tack all the time !

then tendon & fetlock boots for sj & eventing boots for xc

she did have martingale as when she was younger but she jumps better without it & doesn't need it so no point
 
Mine has a snaffle, a martingale which he doesn't really need all the time but I need an *ohshtstrap* and a breastplate as even though he had his saddle fitted because his withers are so high and he's so narrow it does slip back over bigger jumps.

But I have to admit he wears a grackle because it looks better than a flash noseband. He goes round with his mouth open and at 20 there's only so much schooling I can do, so to stop him p-ing off with his mouth open when I take a pull he goes better in a flash but he's got such a giant head a grackle looks better, I know, I know, I'm a bad person!
 
I'm a basic tack person. I only use cavesson nose bands and snaffle bits on my boy. He does however wear a five point breastplate for XC and SJ. I compete in a Solution treeless saddle and whilst I've never had the saddle slip, it's a precaution and he jumps best in the five point. Likewise he jumps in a martingale, he very rarely puts his head up, but if he does I'd rather he can't get it up high enough that a. he can't see the fence, or b. splatter my nose!

So for me they're part of my XC safety kit - like my body protector and his protective boots.
 
I always use a breastplate xc or on anything young just for extra piece of mind. I read somewhere (I think wfp's book) that riding xc with a breastplate is a safety thing as well, as if the girth snaps you have more time to pull up and more of a chance to stay on!

If a martingale is fitted correctly it doesn't interfere with the horse if its head is low enough, so I have no problem riding with a martingale either. It also saves gobbing them in the mouth if I'm nervous about a fence so have something to hang on to!
 
Older horse has a hunting breastplate just in case - saddle hasn't moved yet, but better safe than sorry.
She has a properly fitted martingale attachment for those moments when she thinks she can attack a downhill upright at the same speed as an uphill spread! Her head tends to come up, and in the interests of safety a martingale is necessary.

The younger horse has a 5 point whenever he is is ridden, because he likes standing on his back legs, and is narrow with a very short back. I never want to risk his saddle to slip even a mm back, so a 5 point seemed the most effective way of securing it. The dead sheep under it prevents rubs, because he wears it EVERY time he is ridden. But he doesn't have a martingale. It would probably make his rear worse if he felt constricted, and doesn't need one anyway.

Both horses have a stirrup leather neck strap when they do any jumping. I would rather grab that than the reins in an emergency.
 
Never in 50 odd years of riding ,have I had a saddle slip back and I am not convinced as to how much a 5 point would help. Possibly only once the rider is gone and it is likely to slip back like a western "Bucking strap". I did witness an incident at Mattingly however where a rider parted company and the saddle slipped under the belly, the horse then jumped a rope barrier ,which caught on the saddle, ripping out a whole line of fence posts ,one of which felled the riders girl friend. The connections didnt know which way to run, horse rider girl friend. The moral is that when **** happens just try to deal with it.
 
pretty basic for me. Loose ring snaffle at the moment & cavesson noseband. For jumping & hacking I use a breastplate & sometimes a stronger bit.....for added security. My horse always wears brushing boots for flatwork & tendon/fetlock boots for her safety.
 
I use a full cheek NS snaffle for Dr, schooling, hacking and pole work. My horse likes it. For jumping at home, SJ and XC I use a kimblewick with a X noseband.
I used to use a martingale but once I found the right bit for my horse to jump in (Kimblewick) he doesn't need it.
The martingale was also helpful when he was young as he could be a bit spooky and wobbly and I am only little on him but now he is older and established he simply doesn't need it.
I do put a neckstrap on XC and SJ purely because if I am nervous it's nice to know I can grab on to something that isn't attached to his mouth! In reality I rarely use it, it's more of a mental thing for me :).
 
I wear a dressage saddle and plain cavesson bridle with hanging snaffle for dressage, and jump in saddle with hunting breastplate, martingale and dead sheep on his nose too ;). My boy doesn't need the martingale when it's on... But he sure knows when it's not on and I get giraffe head and galloping at fences!! Noseband helps with that too. I do only use a cavesson at any point though.
 
Kali wears a grackle (for showjumping too), a waterford bit with a fulmer cheek (for steering help - he's been known to put in a wicked spin), a breastplate and martingale (the breastplate is for show - it just breaks him up a bit/looks smart, the martingale is to stop him sticking his ears up Z's nose), Veredus eventing boots and overreach boots. No dead sheep on the breastplate, but he does have a dead sheep saddle pad. All tack is brown (very smart) - can't wait until he's recovered (fingers' crossed) so that we can get it all out again . . .

P
 
I would never not use a breast girth- I use it for everything. It makes a great neck strap as well as giving security to my saddles.
All my horses go in cheek snaffles with no martingale. If they need to get their head up in front of a jump that's fine by me, I hate the action of the running martingale
 
I always go XC with a breastplate of some description. I currently use a old fashioned breast girth, and a neck strap just in case. Horse goes in a cavesson with a Happy mouth snaffle that is also wrapped in latex. My saddle is well flocked so no pad needed.
Just curious, this is a thread like a New Lounge post! Why does it matter if others have different tack to yourself and your horse? It is so important to be safe XC so you should ride with whatever you and your horse need to stay happy throughout the run.
 
I use a breastplate with martingale attachment on my jumping horses so I have something to hold on to in case of a sticky moment and to stop them sticking their ears up my nose. I also have a neck strap for whenever I'm on the big guy to stop me holding into his mouth while we're getting used to each other again.
The big guy is in a grackle to stop him crossing his jaw but everyone else is in a normal cavesson.

On the flat they're all in loose ring snaffle but they're all different for jumping: Timbi is in a happy mouth 2 ring gag to encourage him to jump upwards. Lenny is in a NS universal to give me a little bit more say in how fast we're going into a fence. Jerry is in a happy mouth Pelham so I can get him back to me without fighting and Beau is currently in a Nelson gag with a Waterford mouthpiece because he likes to lean and try to pee-off, especially when the fences are a bit smaller.

Each to their own.
 
khalswitz said:
I wear a dressage saddle and plain cavesson bridle with hanging snaffle for dressage, and jump in saddle with hunting breastplate, martingale and dead sheep on his nose too ;). My boy doesn't need the martingale when it's on... But he sure knows when it's not on and I get giraffe head and galloping at fences!! Noseband helps with that too. I do only use a cavesson at any point though.
Click to expand...

Speaking of dead sheep, I do have a dead sheep under my dressage saddle, but only because it actually needs lifting up... and I wear boots for everything except dressage as he tends to brush.
 
i think it completely depends on the horse as well like my old mare i schooled her in a plain french link snaffle nothing else

but we sj & xc in a pelham & a martingale because she hated me telling her what to do so if i had a snaffle in & had to take decent checks she would just have a meltdown as she despised being told what to do; however if i rode in a pelham i could literally just half halt ever so lightly & she would carry on & be perfectly happy so for me it was a decision for her rather than me... it took us months with my trainer trying different bits to find what she was happy with & i really didnt want to try anything i considered strong but i would rather that & her be happy :)
 
New pony wears full cheek snaffle with normal noseband for hacking, dressage and showjumping along with a neckstrap (I hate riding without something around the neck), fluffy halfpad - she came with it and I like to have it for jumping and fetlock and overreach boots just for sj. For xc I use a dutch gag either on the snaffle or gag ring as I need it to bring her back to me, martingale - keeps her head lower and she doesn't head shake and throw with it so much and it aids with control! Plus xc boots obviously:)

Other pony is in a full cheek and normal noseband again with no other gadgets for dressage and quiet hacking and then has a wilkie snaffle with a bib martingale for everything else:)
 
I dont consider a breastplate a "gadget". I think of a "gadget" as something which is meant to improve the horses way of going to a degree (although often it doesn't). A breastplate doesn't do anything other than add security - they're never tight enough IMO to actually hold the saddle in place. I haven't evented for a couple of years now but I used to event in minimal tack as that's how I prefer it on all my horses - I did use a breastplate (for security and handy to have something to grab onto if needed), no martingale, a sheepskin saddlecloth (horse was very sensitive in his back and preferred it), a dressage legal snaffle and plain cavesson. Always booted the horse up fully for SJ and XC.

Everyone has certain items of tack they like and don't for whatever reason. I'm not a fan of martingales so never use them and also flashes/grackles are way too overused IMO. I also never use gags as I just dont like their action. I use what I think is needed though at the end of the day, if I can get away with minimal tack on a particular horse then I will. I do think some people should ask themselves why they use a certain bit / item though as often its for no real reason!
 
Last edited:
I event(ed) my current and past three horses at two star level. I never used a martingale on any as I find them very restrictive. I like to ride with quite an open hand and longer rein. The martingale tends to inhibit this.

I use a racing style elasticated breastgirth with sheepskin over the top. I have always used this, but it helps my current horse especially because he sweats buckets and gets tack rubs very easily.

I tend to prefer a flash noseband. But I have used a mexican grackle in the past. Contrary to some strong opinions against the grackle I feel that if used correctly it can be more comfortable than a flash. Because it sits much higher up the nose I feel that it is less likely to put pressure on the nostrils and airway and therefore less likely to interfere with the horse's breathing. I never do my noseband up very tight.

I think the bitting of an eventer at the higher levels is a very personal thing. With all the skinnies and turns it is necessary to use a stronger bit from time to time. One horse went two star in a happy mouth snaffle, but my current horse uses a rubber pelham. This is a fairly mild bit as I never have the chain very tight. He is a massive WB and I feel it gives me much more manoeuvrability. I have very good hands and very rarely catch him in the mouth, I ride with a fairly light contact anyway so there is no detriment there.

I always jumped him in rubber pelham too. But this season I decided to go left-field and tried him in an English hackamore. I have had success with this "bit" in the past with other horses. He was very fussy in the mouth coming into the fences. Thus far he has jumped like a dream in the bitless bridle!

I think equipment choices are very personal.
 
Last edited:
Watching badminton yesterday it struck me how few horses were wearing martingales!

I would always use a breastplate xc, although i switch between an elastic racing and a leather hunting breastplate. My saddle fits well, it is a "just in case" thing!

At home billy wears a snaffle bridle with grackle as he prefers this to the flash, but mostly he has the strap below bit to stop him from chewing reins etc. he loves to play!!
Saddle is either dressage or jump. Flatwork he wears brushing boots all round, hacking front brushing (as usually his hinds are too wet from mud) and nothing when jumping. No breastplate at home, and he dosen't wear a martingale as he dosen't need one - plus he is more likely to chew it. As a 4 year old he had a bib martingale however he was able to chew it if he pleased :rolleyes3:

Same bridle for everything as we are allowed grackles for aff dressage :)
 
For flat schooling and DR comps, he wears his DR saddle with a cavesson bridle (no flash) and NS Verbindend (sp?) bit. I also use this for hacking, unless I'm planning on a lot of fast work/ cantering in which case I'll change to my jumping saddle and put on a flash. For SJ and SJ lessons he wears a jumping saddle, same bit and bridle but with a flash added. For XC and XC training, as above with a running martingale and PE eventing boots all round. Debating not using the martingale though as he doesn't need it, it's just habit from when he was a naughty 5yo that used to spin and bog off!
 
Personally my horses; one is in a grackle with a Pelham, no breastplate no martingale, just his jump saddle with a fluffy half pad and saddlecloth, as saddle doesn't fit perfectly.
He has xc boots and overreach.

The other has a cavesson, eggbutt snaffle, hunting breastplate martingale, same saddle combination but without fluffy and same boots.

I would always on any other horses want a breastplate at the very least for a handle, or a neckstrap.


Anything involving jumping I will always wear spurs and tend to have them on for flat on most horses too.
I do ride for a living and only use what is necessary tbh.
 
Bo is pretty basic.

Loose ring french link snaffle - it's what we do flatwork in, he is happy and I have enough control in SJ and XC.
Cavesson bridle - He used to be in a Hanovarian as he no longer needs the flash.
Racing style breastplate - just in case the saddle slips (it has never yet, but its a precaution)
Neck Strap/Oh Crap Strap - Just incase, and yes I have used it on occasion :)
XC boots
Rubber bell boots and that's it.

GK is a bit more complicated, but not too much.

He is in a Cavesson
Racing breastplate
Neck Strap
XC boots and rubber bell boots.

He is ridding on XC in a Stubben EZ Control Pelham - He is super strong, he leans on the bit, fulls like a freight train, locks his neck and is a general pain in the backside (but is getting a little better). I use this bit because the way it is designed discourages leaning on the bit and immediately rewards by softening in the mouth when the horse stops leaning. It gives me enough control XC without having too much.
I am playing with GK's Show Jumping bit. He used to be in the above pelham but I have had him in a Neue Schule Tranz Angled Lozenge Universal and he has been going fantastically in it, so that is something I will prob switch to in the near future.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top